14-2
by Han Yong-un
Soon-young did not speak any longer.
Sook-ja's words were somewhat grateful.
But on the other hand—
It bothered her that she kept speaking ill of Dae-cheol.
She quietly got up.
“Then I will go out.”
Just as she was about to leave the room—
“Hey, Soon-young.”
Sook-ja called her again.
When Soon-young turned around, Sook-ja stepped a few steps toward the yard and asked.
“So if we consider the remaining period as money…”
She looked closely at Soon-young's face.
“Do you have that money?”
“I do.”
Soon-young answered without difficulty.
“Then…”
Sook-ja's gaze changed.
“Is that man giving it to you?”
Soon-young hesitated for a moment.
But in the end, she shook her head.
“No.”
“Then?”
“I will pay.”
Sook-ja's eyes widened.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you pay?”
Sook-ja's voice rose slightly.
“Does that man not have such money?”
Soon-young could not bring herself to speak about Dae-cheol's situation.
So she tried to sound calm and said.
“It doesn't matter who pays.”
But Sook-ja already had a knowing look.
“So you mean you will pay with your savings.”
“That's part of it…”
Soon-young said quietly.
“I also have the money I brought from Seoul this time.”
Sook-ja was silent for a moment.
And then she asked quietly.
“If you spend all that money…”
She looked directly at Soon-young.
“Is it okay to get married and live on that?”
Soon-young answered honestly.
“I don't think our situation is sufficient yet.”
“Then how do you plan to live?”
Sook-ja asked as if frustrated.
Soon-young smiled faintly.
“I will manage somehow.”
And she added calmly.
“Surely, a person who is alive won't be caught in a web.”
Sook-ja clicked her tongue.
“Well, would a person really die?”
She smiled bitterly.
“But you know…”
Sook-ja's voice lowered a bit.
“Not having anything to eat right now is truly a sorrowful thing.”
She had a distant look in her eyes.
“You don't know because you haven't experienced it yet.”
Sook-ja spoke slowly.
“Living with nothing to swallow is such a frightening thing.”
Soon-young listened quietly.
“Why on earth do you want to go to someone who has nothing?”
Sook-ja had a look of not understanding at all.
“I understand that you want to repay a favor…”
She sighed.
“There will come a day when you will regret it.”
Soon-young quietly lowered her eyes.
But her heart did not waver.
A moment of silence passed.
And then Sook-ja opened her mouth again.
“Still, well…”
She forced a tired smile.
“Would it work if I stopped you from doing what you have decided?”
Sook-ja waved her hand.
“The remaining period's payment is whatever it is.”
Soon-young's eyes widened.
“Mother…”
“I was someone who thought about marrying you and living together.”
Sook-ja's eyes became slightly red.
“Even if I can't do that…”
She forced a smile.
“I am not the kind of person who would harshly demand money from a girl getting married.”
Tears quickly welled up in Soon-young's eyes.
Sook-ja said one last time.
“So don't even think about paying a single penny…”
She said while extinguishing her cigarette.
“Just go and think about living well.”
At that moment—
Tears flowed from Sook-ja's eyes.
Soon-young also could not hold back in the end.
The two of them cried together for a while without saying a word.
And a little while later—
Soon-young slowly left the room, wiping her wet eyes.